What’s in a word?

DQ here. I’ve been reading about the financial problems in Greece, and Europe generally, for a while. The problems there are, after all, the ones we will face in America one day soon. I’m struck, though, by the use of two key words:

Stimulus — The effort to spend your way out of debt, by going further into debt in the hopes that the economy (and, therefore, revenues to the government) will grow so fast that overall debt will ultimately be reduced.

Austerity — Limiting or reducing the size of government and the burden it places on the economy.

“Stimulus” is a friendly word. True, it represents a concept that never works (see the “disappointing” effect of the stimulus package in the U.S. on our country’s overall debt). But it sounds like it would be downright fun to do. Stimulating, in fact.

“Austerity,” on the other hand, is an unfriendly word. It actually has a chance to work, or it would if the people weren’t so used to sucking at the government teat that they are no longer capable of doing productive work for a living. But it sounds cruel, evoking pictures of suffering and unpleasantness. No one wants to be thought of as “austere.”

The use of such loaded terms biases the discussion in favor of the one solution sure to fail. It complicates the task of those of us who realize that government is far more often a burden on, rather than a help to, the economy. Does anyone have any ideas for more favorable, or at least more neutral, terms for these two courses of action? Does anyone have any idea as to how we could inject new terms into the discussion, or are “stimulus” and “austerity” so accepted that they cannot be dislodged?

That’s a very interesting idea, DQ. We know that words shape perception. Winston Churchill’s most famous speeches had larger than average numbers of simple, fighting Anglo-Saxon words. Using words with negative connotations for necessary acts is a sure way to make people feel they’re swallowing rough medicine.

Nice analogy, Sadie, but I think my wife would prefer to be considered stimulating, not austere, anyway!

jj

Changing the terms is an endearing notion, I suppose; but a pile of manure by any other name remains a pile of manure. You can call it “organic garden enhancement formula” if you wish, but it remains a pile of manure.

And I’m not sure that a term defined in this case as insufficiently warm and fuzzy will bias the discussion in favor of the alternative that cannot work: stimulus. Austerity cannot work either, unless the word in front of it is “serious;” or perhaps “real;” or “genuine.” That will render it even less likable, which will cause Americans to be even more half-assed about it, and if we half-ass it then things will get even worse quicker. So “stimulus” doesn’t work, but “genuine austerity” is even worse, and uncomfortable to boot.

I much prefer “elimination” going forward. Or perhaps “scorched earth.” Eliminate the Department of Education. Eliminate the Department of Energy. Eliminate HUD. Eliminate OSHA. Eliminate the Department of Agriculture. No need for austerity, or for stimulus – just lighten the BS load. The government lugs around far too much BS, for which it expects other people to pay. Don’t be “austere,” we don’t need that. What we need is an executioner.

This is like trying to make “guns” into a positive word for Californians when they think they know what’s going on in Oakland. Propaganda is not merely about choice of words. It’s about controlling the subject’s point of view by convincing the subject that they know the truth already about X, Y, or Z.

SADIE

Maybe it’s just a matter of hyphenating a word and marketing it.

Why not austerity-challenged. Of course, there’s always the chance that they may want to be “entitled” by using the Americans with Disabilities Act. The odd thing is that one is apt to brag about getting the best bargain for the money. Who hasn’t said to a friend, “I found a great sale on [fill in your treat here]”. The buyer is giddy with delight and can’t wait to share the news with a friend. I’ve never heard anyone say, “Oh WOW, I just overpaid by 200% the new car”.

As long as we’re having fun with words: ‘Austerity’ – rightsizing, process improvement, or to borrow a page from the progressive playbook – waste reduction. I’m not sure what to do with the Orwellian ‘stimulus’, except to call it what it is: mandated income reallocation.

Mike Devx

DQ is right. Stimulus is a feel-good word wrapping a poison.

I’d like to see our side come up with a phrase like ‘Tough Love’. Tough love could be called neglect. Who wants to be accused of neglecting their children? But tough love is deliberate neglect, targeted at a specific behavior, with the certainty that your child will be FAR better off in the long run. Call it Tough Love, not neglect.

Anyway, these immature whiners are calling it ‘austerity’ even when their government spending continues to RISE! Even when they continue to add on even more debt than they did the prior year? It’s just that the increase in the debt by year is slowing. And they call that austerity!!! Pardon the vulgarity, but… oh… my… frickin’… god. They haven’t got a clue.